japan nuclear emergency - 8.9 earthquake

At least 32 deaths confirmed; 'nuclear emergency' declared after problems at plant

A magnitude 8.9 earthquake slammed Japan's northeastern coast Friday, unleashing a 13-foot  tsunami that swept boats, cars, buildings and tons of debris miles inland and prompting a "nuclear emergency."

At least 32 people were killed and there were reports of several injuries in Tokyo, hundreds of miles away, where buildings shook violently through the main quake and the series of massive aftershocks that followed.

The quake triggered problems with a cooling system at a power plant , officials said, prompting the "emergency," but the officials maintained that no radiation had leaked. A fire was reportedly burning in a turbine building at the plant.

Fires triggered by the quake burned out of control up and down the coast.

 Video: Live coverage of quake's aftermath

Prime Minister Naoto Kan said the quake caused "major damage" in northeastern Japan.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42023385/ns/world_news-asia-pacific/

US-led forces kill Karzai cousin

US-led forces have shot and killed a cousin of Afghan President Hamid Karzai after an attack on his house in Kandahar province's Dand district in southern Afghanistan.

The US Special Forces arrived in a helicopter in Karz village and stormed the house of Haji Yar Mohammad Khan on Wednesday night, Press TV has been told.

Nazek, however, declined to provide further details. He pointed out that further investigations are underway.   Ahmad Wali Karzai, the president's younger brother and head of Kandahar's provincial council, has also confirmed the brutal killing.

Meanwhile, people took to the streets in Kandahar, chanting anti-US slogans to protest another US-led attack on civilians in the village of Jiri.   Earlier on Wednesday, German troops based in northern Afghanistan killed a civilian woman and injured another during an exchange of fire.

Civilian casualties in war-ravaged Afghanistan rose substantially during 2010, according to a new United Nations report. The annual report on civilian deaths showed 2,777 fatalities last year, an increase of 15 percent from the previous 12 months.

Source: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/169167.html